‘Fantastic Beasts’ Finds Female Lead In Katherine Waterston
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themhas just found itself a fantastic female lead.Katherine Waterston, last seen beguiling Joaquin Phoenix in Paul Thomas Anderson’sInherent Vice, is set to join theHarry Potterspinoff starringEddie Redmayne. Hit the jump for character details and more on theFantastic BeastsKatherine Waterston casting.
Set in New York roughly 70 years before the start of the Harry Potter series,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themfollows “magizoologist” Newt Scamander (Redmayne) in his quest to find and document magical creatures. The title of the film refers to a book written by Scamander, which goes on to become required reading for Potter and his Hogwarts classmates.
David Yates, who helmed the last fourHarry Pottermovies, will directFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.Harry PotterauthorJ.K. Rowlingwrote the script. Rowling andDavid Heymanwill produce along withSteve KlovesandLionel Wigram.THRreports Waterston will play Tina, short for Porpetina, a witch who meets Scamander on his travels. Waterston was one of three actresses named on ashortlistthat made the rounds a few weeks ago. The others were modelKate UptonandGreat GatsbystarElizabeth Debicki.
At the time, we additionally learned Tina was one of two female lead roles. The other is that of Tina’s younger sister Queenie. Casting for that role has not yet been announced butSaoirse Ronan,Dakota Fanning,Lili Simmons, andAlison Sudolwere said to be among the contenders.
Fantastic Beastsshould be a huge boost for Waterston, who had a breakthrough performance in last year’sInherent Vice. Her other credits includeMichael Clayton,Being Flynn,Robot & Frank,Night Moves, and the HBO dramaBoardwalk Empire. Next up for her is Danny Boyle’sSteve Jobs, in which she plays Jobs' girlfriend Chrisann Brennan.Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemopensNovember 18, 2016.
